The Department of Biological Sciences and the Idaho Museum of Natural History (IMNH) at Idaho State University (ISU) invite applications for a jointly-appointed 9-month, full time, tenure-track Assistant Professor / Assistant Curator in Life Sciences to begin August 2020. IMNH and the Department of Biological Sciences share a common mission to provide and nurture opportunities for understanding living systems through high-quality public education, scientific discovery, and service. The successful candidate will have a doctorate in the biological sciences or closely related field with substantial, documented experience and training in systematic botany and collections management. Postdoctoral experience is preferred. Startup funds are available.
The Department of Biological Sciences has over 30 faculty members specializing in diverse sub-disciplines of the biological sciences and serves over 500 undergraduate majors and over 40 graduate students.
IMNH is the official natural history museum for Idaho and has 10 staff members, employs dozens
of student interns, and cares for over 700,000 specimens in life, earth, and anthropological sciences. The Life Sciences Division comprises biodiversity collections of vertebrates, insects, and plants. The Ray J Davis Herbarium (ca. 80,000 specimens) is a very active collection that is digitized and incorporated in the Consortia of Pacific Northwest Herbaria.
Key Responsibilities
The joint appointment workload will comprise research, collections curation, teaching, and service. The successful candidate will be expected to develop an active, extramurally funded research program in botanical sciences that mentors undergraduate and graduate students in the Department of Biological Sciences. The research specialty is open, with preference for candidates whose research is rooted in field- and specimen-based evidence, and holds potential to build collections at the Museum. However, we encourage applications from individuals whose research addresses important questions at any scale, ranging from molecular to landscape. The candidate will manage Life Sciences collections and serve as liaison to Federal agencies for the repository. Teaching responsibilities for this position may include systematic botany and other courses in the candidate’s area of expertise, or in the Department of Biological Science’s core curriculum. The assistant professor will build a collaborative, interdisciplinary, and extramurally-funded research program that has the potential to enhance and complement the research of other faculty members in the department and the museum. The Department of Biological Sciences and the Museum have high expectations for collegiality and shared responsibility to meet our departmental and institutional visions and goals.
Minimum Qualifications
A doctorate (by August 2020) in a field relevant to the position.
Training in biological sciences with an emphasis on botany/plant biology and use of relevant modern experimental tools.
Experience in museum botanical collections management.
Evidence of teaching experience.
Demonstrated scholarship in botany/plant biology research.
Preferred Qualifications
Postdoctoral research experience in a field relevant to botany.
More than two years of Collections Management or Curator experience
Experience working within a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary environment.
Success in attracting extramural research funding.
College-level teaching expertise in botany and other relevant fields.
Demonstrated success in recruiting and working with students from diverse backgrounds, and a background that enhances diversity of the department's faculty.
Please submit the following documents with your application:
CV, cover letter, statements of research interests (maximum of two pages) and teaching philosophy (maximum of two pages), a list of names with contact information for three (3) professional references willing to write letters of recommendation, if requested. Inquiries should be directed to Dr. Keith Reinhardt, Chair, Botany Faculty Position, Department of Biological Sciences, Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID, USA (email botany@isu.edu).
Priority consideration will be given to applications received by November 22, 2019. However, the position will remain open until filled. Salary will be commensurate with education and experience. Includes a competitive benefits package. Offers of employment may be conditional pending successful completion of a background investigation.